Union Square’s Chanukah Festival - Menorah Lighting

2025 is the 50th anniversary of a local miracle that happened in 1975 when San Francisco Jewish community leaders joined together to create the first big public menorah lighting and celebration of Chanukah outside of Israel. This was energized with the support of Bill Graham, the world-famous concert promoter and mensch. A Holocaust survivor, Bill had his company build an giant amazing 22-foot mahogany Menorah.

The Bill Graham "Mama Menorah" set the stage for large menorahs now lit annually in over 15,000 large and small cities worldwide. This new modern tradition, inspired by Chabad-Lubavitch's Rabbe Menachem Schneerson, has grown to be a global phenomenon with large public menorah lightings in major city centers, including Washington DC, New York City, London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Moscow, Kyiv, Delhi, Dubai, Manila, Hong Kong and more.

Chanukah, presented by Chabad SFs Bill Graham Menorah Project, is one of the biggest events in SFs famous Union Square Park. Upbeat and joyful, it is an opportunity to spread the light of Chanukah throughout the bay area and the world.

~~~

Union Square Menorah Lighting Schedule:

December 14th through December 22nd 2025 / 5786 Schedule

* Sunday, December 14th

"Bill Graham Menorah Day"

2:00 - 6:30 pm: 1st Lighting Ceremony

2:30-4:30 : Dreidel House Childrens Crafts

2:00 : Childrens Chanukah Show by Isaac Zones

3:15 Shamati Live

4:30 - 6:30 Bill Graham All Stars band features Jordan Feinstein (keys/vocals, Jordan and the RituaL), Byron Rynes (guitar, Grateful for the Blues), Aaron Kaplan (guitar), Ben Bernstein (bass), Michael Bogart (trumpet, formerly Tower of Power), and Greg Errico (drums, original Sly and the Family Stone).

5:00 pm: Menorah Lighting Ceremony honoring SF Mayor, Daniel Lurie, Rabbi Brian Lurie, State Senator Scott Wiener, Felix Vulis and Family, David Graham, Danny Scher, Friends of Bill, dignitaries and special guests!

* Monday, December 15th

5:00 pm 2nd Lighting Ceremony

* Tuesday, December 16th

5:00 pm 3rd Lighting Ceremony Honoring the Klaber and Krug Family

6:30pm - 8:00pm Chanukah Party at NEMA 8 10th Street

Email us at [email protected] to register. Chanukah give aways, festive holiday food and DJ Malki !

* Wednesday, December 17th

5:00 PM, 4th Lighting Ceremony Honoring the SFPD & The Dryan / Bernstein Family

8:00 PM YJP Chanukah LUX @ Madarae TICKETS HERE - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chanukah-lux-tickets-1968322667083

* Thursday, December 18th

4-7pm @ Thrive City! RSVP here - https://chasecenter.com/events/winter-wonderland-hanukkah-celebration-20251218/ .

**8:00 pm 5th Lighting Ceremony in Union Square

* Friday, December 19th

2:30 pm 6th Lighting Ceremony

* Saturday, December 20th

8:00 pm 7th Lighting Ceremony

Musical Havdala Ceremony with Rabbi Shmulik Friedman and honoring the YJP Community

* Sunday, December 21st

4:00pm Live Music

5:00 pm 8th Lighting Ceremony - Grand Finale Honoring the Russian Jewish Speaking Community and the wider Jewish Community | Co Sponsor Shalom Bayit

SF MENORAH CAR PARADE Sunday, Dec 21st 6:30pm. EMAIL US at [email protected] TO RSVP, Launch site AND GET A MENORAH FOR YOUR CAR OR RIDE ALONG ABOARD THE MITZVAH CABLE CAR STRAIGHT FROM UNION SQUARE!